February Waltz (Rhythm of the Heart Book 3) (12 page)

“Oh! Yeah!” Tim unbuckled his seat belt and ran for the doors of the ER like Hell's demons were after him.

“Zoe,” Grams said, “let's get you ready to unload.”

“Okay.”

Grams unbuckled her seatbelt and Layla opened the door. “Come on, give me your hand.” Layla braced herself and Zoe took her hand. “On the count of three. One... Two... Three.” The veins in Layla's neck stood out as she pulled Zoe from the low seat. “There!” She gasped.

Tim came running back with a wheelchair and Zoe swiveled to sit in the seat. Then Tim started running. “Stop running, I'm afraid you're going to dump me out!” Zoe yelled.

“Nah, I got this.” Tim promised.

“That's what I'm afraid of!” They careened into the doors and Zoe gripped the arms of the chair.

The nurse stood ready and she smiled as they came down the hallway. “Hi there! I hear we're having contractions? Dr. Crist has already called and I'm to take you directly to the maternity floor. We have a bed ready for you and the doctors are on their way. How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Contractions freaking hurt,” Zoe grumbled.

“They sure do, honey. I've had four, myself. But it's worth it!”

They came to the elevator and the nurse backed them in. Grams and Layla followed with the bag of necessities. “Whew, I'm glad Dr. Crist got everything straight,” Grams smiled at the nurse.

“Yeah, we usually send preterm ladies up to the maternity ward, but it's always good to get the ball rolling!” She agreed.

“Ow!” Zoe roared.

“Five minutes again,” Grams mumbled to the nurse. “I've been keeping time.”

“Getting closer together, Zoe? A little stronger?”

“Yes!” she groaned out.

“All righty, we are almost there.”

The next few minutes were a blur as they came out of the elevator and she was undressed and put into a bed with a gown on. The doctor came into the room just as she was covering herself with the blanket. “Hello there, Zoe!”

“Hi,” she replied simply.

“I'm Dr. Elijah. I hear you have been having contractions and your water might have broken?” He smiled and sat down on the little stool at the end of her bed.

“If her water didn't break, she peed,” Layla offered.

Dr. Elijah smirked. “Well, I guess I should take a little look. Let me get a nurse in here right quick and we'll see where we are at. Zoe, do you want them to stay while I examine you?”

Layla piped up. “Oh God, I am not staying in here.” She hurried from the room.

Grams stared into Zoe's face. “Baby, I'll stay if you want me to.”

“Please?” Zoe held her hand out. “I need you.”

“And I'm there, baby.” Grams took her hand and squeezed it gently.

Dr. Elijah stood and peeked his head out the door. “Need a nurse, now!”

Moments later a young, blonde nurse hurried to the door. “Yes, sir?”

“We need to do an exam.” He washed his hands at the small sink and pulled gloves on. “Zoe, let's put your legs in the stirrups and see how we are doing.”

“I have a stitch in my cervix,” Zoe reminded him, groaning as another contraction cramped through her belly.

“Four minutes,” Grams said coolly.

“Contractions getting closer together?” Dr. Elijah asked, concern crossing his face.

“Yep.”

“All right,” he nodded. “Let's shine some light on the subject.” A bright spotlight came on and he positioned the chair at the end of the bed. “Zoe honey, can you shift your bottom closer to the end of the bed for me?

“Okay,” she shifted closer.

“I want your bottom almost hanging off the edge. Just a bit more.”

She shifted again.

“Perfect. All right, I'm going to touch you here... and let's see what we see.”

Zoe grimaced at his touch. “I hate this.”

“Yeah, I can't imagine it's too much fun,” he admitted. “I'm going to have to put the speculum in there and take a peek at your cervix. Did you have a shot when you went into labor before to prepare the baby's lungs for birth?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Good. We are probably going to give you one more just to be on the safe side. I need to make sure your cervix is holding without the contractions straining the stitches. If the stitches seem to be holding okay, I can give you some medicine to stop the contractions and we'll try to hold the baby a little bit longer. But if you are having straining on the stitches, I'll have to undo it and we'll be having a baby pretty quick. Either way if your water has broken, we will be having a baby in a day or so.” Dr. Elijah said calmly as he inserted the speculum and peered in at her cervix.

“Okay. So we can't hold her any longer?” Zoe squirmed.

“Nope. Going to do a quick ultrasound too. Nurse, can you hand me the wand?”

The nurse passed him the little wand with lubricant on it and he placed it on her stomach and peered at the screen of the ultrasound machine. Silence swelled as he looked.

Grams finally coughed nervously. “What do you see, Doc?”

“Well,” he started as he passed the wand back to the nurse. “I am going to cut this string. It's pulled tight and I don't want to cause damage to the cervix.”

“So we're gonna have a baby... soon?” Grams asked.

“Yes. I want to get a monitor on the baby. She is positioned for birth and ready to go. I need to monitor her for fetal distress. If she isn't happy in there I might have to perform a c-section.”

“Why wouldn't she be happy in there?” Zoe demanded.

Dr. Elijah smiled patiently. “She could be stressed out. We've been holding her in there for quite some time now. Your water has broken and she's ready to go. I just want to make sure that her heart rate is okay. Why don't you take your legs out of the stirrups and get comfortable while we get the monitor and the tools ready to clip the stitches?”

Zoe complied, sliding back on the bed and she squeezed her eyes shut as the doctor and nurse left the room. “I got really panicked when Layla and Tim were talking about my book being in the paper. I just freaked out and I guess that's what did it. If there is anything wrong with her, I'm going to hate myself.”

“Ah hell, honey. We've been holding this girl for as long as we can, and I'm frankly surprised she didn't make her debut sooner. I wish those two would learn how to keep their flaps shut, but you've done good holding on this long.” Grams leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Don't stress it, baby.”

Zoe grasped the sheet on the bed and her back arched as another contraction came. “
Owwwwww.
”

Dr. Elijah and the nurse came back at that moment. “Time?” He pointed to Grams.

“Four minutes.”

“All right, honey, slide on back down here.” Dr. Elijah prompted.

Zoe stuck her feet in the stirrups and slid down the bed again. He pulled on clean gloves and the nurse placed tools on a tray for him. “This good, Doc?” Zoe asked.

“Perfect. I am going to put the speculum back in and open you back up. Then I'll snip these strings and we'll go from there.” Dr. Elijah hummed as he worked and Zoe flinched as she felt the tug of the instrument on string.

“That hurts!”

“Sorry, almost done. One big pull...”

Zoe hissed as he withdrew the instruments. “Is my stuff still attached?”

“Yeah, we're good to go. Let me feel how far you’re dilated.” He paused for a moment as he felt around. “Ah. You're easily five, maybe six centimeters. Let's get this monitor on the baby's head.”

“Five to six centimeters?” Zoe gasped. “That's a lot.”

“Yeah, it is. The stitch held the baby in and as the baby grew, stress was put on the stitches. Now that there are no stitches to cinch it tight, you're opening up. And there we go, now we have your girl on monitor. Let's take a little look see at her heart rate.” Dr. Elijah explained and his brow furrowed as he scrutinized the monitor.

“Hmm, her heart is running a little slower than I'd like. Let's put another monitor around your belly and see if we get anything any different, okay?” He smiled encouragingly.

Zoe swallowed. “Something is wrong, isn't it?”

“Ah, we don't know that yet, let's not stress what we don't know, okay?” He replied as the nurse placed the monitor around her stomach. Another set of numbers popped up on the screen and he hummed to himself.

“How does she look, Doc?” Grams pressed.

“Her heart rate is kind of low... I don't think we have time for another shot for her lungs. I'm going to get the operating room ready. We're having a baby.”

Zoe opened and closed her mouth. “We're having a baby? Now?” She wailed. “My husband isn't here.”

“Ah he won't miss much, I promise. We'll have you and the baby all cleaned up when he gets here.” Dr. Elijah patted her knee. “Things are going to move fast in the next few minutes, Zoe.”

“Can Grams stay with me?” She pleaded.

“Yes, let's get her in some scrubs while we get the room prepped.” He rushed out of the room and the nurse followed behind him.

“Grams, I'm scared.” Zoe mumbled and she clenched Grams' hand tight.

“Nothing to be scared of, sweetheart. Just a little slice and they'll pull her out and she will be perfect,” Grams promised.

The nurse returned. “Put these scrubs on, ma'am. Over your clothes is fine.”

Grams released her hand and hurried to pull the pale green scrubs over her khaki pants and coral top. She tied the cap over her grey curls. “I look like I belong on that show,
ER
!”

Zoe tried to smile, but her lips trembled and tears filled her eyes. “This is too real.”

“It will be okay. Look here is the doctor, they are getting ready.”

The nurse unlocked the wheels of her bed and smiled down at her. “We're going to take you to the operating room now. Ma'am, follow us.”

Grams nodded at Zoe and moved to follow behind the bed as they hurried down the hall. The nurse pushed through the swinging black doors of the operating room and Zoe glanced around as they walked into the cool, sterile room. Lots of lights were set up and several people were moving around.

“I'm scared!” She squeaked.

Dr. Elijah turned and smiled patiently. “Nothing to be scared of. We are going to put you under. Mike here is going to give you a little anesthesia and you'll be asleep through the whole thing. We don't have time to numb you with an epidural. We'll slide a screen up and your support can sit at your head. We will make a quick cut, pull the baby out, and we will pass her off to the neonatal unit. They will check her over and make sure she is well. Your family will be able to see her after we get her cleaned up. Then I will stitch you up and bring you out of anesthesia. It will be done before you know it.”

Zoe swallowed nervously and nodded. “All right.”

“It's for the best. We don't want her heart rate to get down too low. We will take care of you and her, I promise. Let’s get you on the operating table and get things moving, okay?”

“Okay.”

Grams squeezed her shoulder. “I'll be right here, honey. Don't you worry about a thing.”

“I'm not,” Zoe lied.

Mike the anesthesiologist came to her head. “Hi there, Zoe. I'm going to put this mask on your face and you'll take some nice, slow breaths for me. When I get you nice and sleepy, I'm going to put a tube down your throat and we will monitor you. When you wake up, you will be in recovery and have a baby.” He fitted the mask over her face and Zoe took a deep breath. The last thing she saw was Grams' soft smile.

Zoe stood in the little room again and she looked around. “Hello?”
Okay, these dreams have GOT to stop!

A door seemed to appear in the wall of the room and in walked her father and mother. “Hello, Zoe,” Lila said softly.

“Momma,” Zoe cried and she rushed across the room to fall into the older woman's arms.

They embraced tightly and Lila stroked Zoe's hair back from her face. “You are so beautiful.”

“I have missed you,” Zoe whispered.

“I have missed you. We don't have long. Just know that everything will be okay, and that I love you.” Lila pressed a warm kiss to her cheek.

“I wish we had more time.” Zoe glanced at her father. “Daddy. I miss you too.”

He held his arms open and Zoe turned to hug him. “I miss you too, Zoe.”

Lila touched her arm. “Go and be the best momma you can be, Zoe. I know you will be.”

Zoe reached out as the room began to shimmer and fade. “I am not ready to go.”

Lila smiled sadly, her soft brown eyes swimming with tears. “It's time for you to rejoin the living. We can't have another girl grow up without her momma. Be well, Zoe.”

Zoe woke up in the recovery room and she gasped for air and began to cry.

A nurse came around the curtain. “Hey, take some slow breaths, let me get you a little oxygen.”

“Where is my husband?”

“I can get your Grams for you if you want, honey, but your husband isn't here yet. Your little girl made it here safe and sound.” The nurse pulled a mask over her face and Zoe took deep breaths of the cool oxygen.

As if shaking away the cobwebs of a nightmare, she blinked and the realization that her daughter was born made her heart skip a beat. “She's okay?”

The nurse smiled brightly. “She's beautiful. Four pounds and six ounces. Came out screaming.”

“I need to see her!”

“Soon,” the nurse replied. “We have to just keep you here for a little while so the anesthesia wears off. Let me get your Grams for you.” She slipped around the curtain.

Zoe closed her eyes and the faint traces of a dream tickled the edge of her subconscious.
Why can't I remember?
The lingering thoughts disappeared as Grams came into the recovery room.

“Hey there, little Momma!” Grams beamed. She pulled a phone from the pocket of her scrubs. “Layla got a picture of our girl. She's beautiful.”

Zoe took the phone from Grams and her blurry eyes focused on the picture. A very tiny, dark haired, olive skinned baby lay on a pink blanket with an IV in one tiny arm. Zoe burst into tears.

“She's not Derek's!”

Grams smiled proudly. “It didn't matter who her birth father was, anyone can make a baby. A real daddy is there through it all. Calvin texted us not long ago and said he was in Dallas. He's on his way, baby.”

Zoe touched the screen and traced the little girl's lips. “God, she's beautiful.”

“She sure is. You picked out a name yet?” Grams took the phone back and stared at the picture.

“We had talked about one, but I want Calvin here first.” Zoe smiled tiredly.

“Of course. Layla is out there in the hallway giving Tim the goo-goo eyes about a baby. I told her to come look at your incision and see if she still wanted a baby. I freaked her out enough that she got right green and told him she never wanted kids.” Grams smirked and winked.

Zoe grinned and her smile fell. “Wait, is the incision that bad?”

“Naw, you look fine.” Grams patted her arm. “Just a little slit.”

“Good. When can I see her?” Zoe mumbled, her eyes sliding part of the way shut.

“Soon, honey. You need to rest a little longer. They've got her hooked to a little oxygen, she was having a touch of trouble breathing, but they said she shouldn't need it long. She did real good.” Grams beamed.

Zoe's eyes fluttered and slid the rest of the way closed. “I'm glad she's okay.”

When she woke again, she was in her room and the man she loved sat at her bedside. “Calvin?” she croaked, her throat sore from the tube during surgery.

His eyes met hers and a slow smile came across his face. “Hey, beautiful, you're awake.” He stood and bent to press a kiss to her mouth.

Zoe kissed him back and touched his face. “I'm so glad you're here. I'm sorry you couldn't be here when she was born.”

Calvin kissed her again gently. “It's okay. Grams filled me in on every detail. Our baby is beautiful.”

Zoe wrapped her arms around his neck, “She sure is.”

“You know, it wouldn't have mattered to me if she had been Derek's. I know I would have loved her just as much. My heart is so damn full I think it's going to explode.”

Zoe grinned. “Grams said my cervix would blow and folks around the Mason Dixon line would know. I bet your heart would cause some damage on up close to Canada.”

Calvin snorted and his shoulders shook with laughter. “I bet it would.”

“Grams wanted to know what we were going to name her. I know we talked about a name, but I think that I have another idea.”

“Oh?” Calvin inquired. “I'm all ears.”

“Violet Dawn,” she finally spoke.

Calvin sat back in his chair and pondered the name for a moment. “Why Violet?”

“I just don't think that tiny little girl can handle the name Dahlia. That's a big name. Violet for Vivian, and Lila. I know it's not a perfect match, but somehow, I just know my Momma would love it... Grams took over mothering me where my mom left off, and I think it is perfect. Dawn as her middle name for your mom.” Zoe held out her hand and Calvin took it in his.

“It's perfect. Violet.”

A knock came at the door and Grams stuck her head in. “Good to see you're awake, Zoe.”

“Thanks Grams. I feel better.”

“They just took her off the oxygen and she's breathing on her own.”

Zoe nodded enthusiastically and shifted her legs on the bed. “I am ready to go see her.”

“Hold your drawers.” Grams held a hand up. “The nurse is going to bring a chair in and we'll get you there in a minute. Did the two of you pick a name? We can't keep calling her the girl. She's gonna get a complex.”

Calvin shook his head. “Grams, I doubt at a few hours old she's going to get a complex being called the girl. But yes, we have her name. Violet Dawn.”

Grams face broke into a wide smile and she hugged Calvin tight, her grey head barely reaching his shoulders. “Our little Violet. Our little Vi! It's perfect.”

Zoe rolled her eyes in mock irritation. “No, Grams, Violet. Not Vi.”

“Violet is an awful big name for such a little girl. I think Vi is just right for now.” Grams declared.

Calvin squeezed Grams again. “Fine with me, Vi it is.”

Zoe threw her hands in the air and sighed. “Fine. I obviously see I can't do anything with the two of you. Vi it is.”

Another knock came at the door and Grams pulled out of Calvin's embrace. “Come on in, make it a party.”

Amy peeked in. “Hi,” she smiled sheepishly. “I saw your baby in the NICU. She's absolutely gorgeous, Zoe.”

“Yes, my Vi is beautiful. I'm getting ready to go see her.” Zoe replied. “How is D.J. doing?”

Amy stepped closer to the bed. “He's great. They are talking about releasing him the end of the week.” She twined her hands together and stood in silence for a moment. “Sadie came here to see me.”

“Oh? Did she act like a grandma should?” She guessed, hoping for Derek's sake that his Momma was behaving.

Amy smiled brightly. “Yes, she did. She said she only went along with Rebel because she was afraid of not going along with him and that D.J. is beautiful. I think we will be okay. But I see she won't be having two grandbabies.”

Zoe glanced up at Calvin and shook her head. “Nope, she won't. Vi is Calvin's.”

Amy nodded. “In a way that makes me sad, knowing our kids won't grow up as siblings.”

Zoe held her hand out and waited for Amy to take it. When she did, Zoe squeezed her hand firmly. “Amy, they will. Just like we did.”

“Oh Zoe!” Amy cried, her face crumpling. “We're going to be okay, aren't we?”

Zoe nodded. “Yes, we are.”

A third knock came at the door and Grams bellowed, “Come on in!”

A nurse walked in. “Are you ready to see your little girl?”

Zoe glanced at Calvin again, her eyes shining with joy. “Yes, I'm ready.”

The moment she saw her Violet laying there, wrapped in a soft pink blanket, Zoe knew her heart would never be the same. She had once thought loving Calvin had healed all the bad things, and in a way, he fixed most of the pieces, but little Vi glued everything together.

“Are you ready to hold her?”

Zoe nodded, unable to say anything. Calvin squeezed her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “I love you,” he said simply.

As Violet was placed in her arms a tear trickled down her cheek and splashed on the baby's hand. “That's a kiss from your grandparents in heaven, Vi. I know they're looking right now and wishing more than anything they could be here.”

Calvin wiped at his eye. “Allergies,” he smiled.

Zoe grinned. “You and Pops sure seem to have bad allergies.”

“Yeah, it's our curse.” Calvin shrugged.

“I love our little family, Calvin. Fate brought us together and I never would have dreamed that in the space of less than a year we would be married and have a daughter. Never.” Zoe stared down at baby Violet and pressed a sweet kiss to her forehead. “Everything is perfect.”

Calvin sat down on the little stool a nurse pushed toward him. “It is. I promised you an extraordinary life.”

“It really is,” she whispered. “It really is.”